Under His Command (13 page)

responsibility, he was uninterested in finding out if any of the escaped

men could pilot one. Minoa had forwarded dossiers on all the

prisoners, but there hadn’t been time to do more than glance over the

information. Unfortunately the common theme among the

characteristics of the subjects of the files seemed to be a tendency

toward ruthless violence, usually unprovoked.

He
was about to provoke them in a big way.

“Let’s remember they’ve had plenty of time to take uniforms from

the crew members. We’re going to assume everyone is the enemy

until positive identification can be made. If fired upon, fire back at

will. Let’s proceed.”

“Yes, Commander.”

The terminal was as dark as the rest of the city, a long, sleek

building that towered above them by hundreds of feet. Because Anaya

Two wasn’t industrial, the facilities were small by most standards, but

still big enough to house a full-sized shipping vessel like the

Serpentine.

They’d barely gotten around the edge on the approach when a

volley of flashing light erupted. It wasn’t a surprise—Kel knew they

were in for a battle—but as they all scrambled to get back behind the

corner of the building, he still uttered an very un-regulation word.

He’d been able to bring down fifty men with him. There were

very close to the same number of convicts and over eighty crew

members from the stolen ship. The odds would be in his favor if any

of the crew were in a position to help, but—a very large question

mark—who knew if any of the Serpentine’s personnel were still alive,

or if so, capable of assistance.

There was also the other factor of trying to infiltrate a defended

position. Every military officer knew that basic rule. The aggressor

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was at a disadvantage. Breaching the wall was the same difficulty

now as it had been back in ancient Earth history. He’d studied the

exploits of ancient generals and kings like Hannibal and Alexander,

not to mention Napoleon Bonaparte and his nemesis Lord Wellington

with interest. Without tracking devices and special communications

and computer intelligence, they’d pitted wits against each other and

won great victories.

It fascinated him, he had to admit, and with all the power shut off

on Anaya Two, he wasn’t all that far from those primitive conditions.

Their handheld trackers had a limited range and he’d just sent his

transports off planet on standby. To keep intercepts at a minimum he

had told Naiad to just monitor signals. Since he had no intention of

putting more of his crew in danger by sending a distress message if

things went wrong, Kel hoped his next communication with his

second in command would be from on board the Serpentine,

announcing they’d been successful and were in control.

Easier said than done.

It was a relief to know Peyton was under disciplinary action and

confined to his quarters. Even if the transports weren’t waiting on

surface, just touching down to allow the rescue parties to disembark

was dangerous. She’d have requested the duty too, he knew her, and

not just her luscious body and innate sensuality either, but her

determination and independent spirit. Besides, Jake was right, of

course, she was probably the best pilot on the ship.

Life mate. He wished Jake had never said it for it was constantly

in the back of his mind now and he needed to concentrate on other

things at the moment, like staying alive.

Other than the sullen light of a distant moon through Anaya Two’s

constant cloud cover, there was literally no illumination. The main

entrance to the terminal was not an option, but he hadn’t expected to

just stroll through it anyway.

“They can’t be organized, sir.” Grand’s face was barely visible

where they both pressed against a wall. The men did the same, silent,

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motionless, well-trained. “It’s got to be every man for himself in

there.”

“They have a mutual vested interest in escape, Major, so let’s

keep that I mind. I think you’re right, but there has to be some

leadership to get them to successfully overpower the guards, take the

ship, and dock it here for fuel and supplies. We have a couple of

options. There’s a service tunnel our opponents may or may not know

exists. I have reservations about it because it’s damned easy to get

trapped, but the airlock system is the other choice and it’s about the

same. I have the security codes for both. We’ll split into three parties.

One group will stay here and keep any of their satellite groups from

going back in, one will go in the tunnel, and one will try the airlocks.”

Grand nodded and hesitated before asking, “Pardon me,

Commander, but if we had the other two options, why did we try the

main door? Why not just sneak in and surprise them?”

A breeze drifted by, whispering past the deserted buildings. Kel

said, “Because right now they know we’re here. They are going to be

strung up, ready to attack us, knowing we’re out here waiting to try

again. The attempt was a diversion to focus all their attention right

here. I’m just counting on them not knowing it.” He smiled grimly.

“Are you a fan of history, Major?”

Grand looked perplexed, the obscure light giving his features

shadows and sharp planes. “Sir?”

“Divide and conquer.” Kel pointed toward where the vague

outline of a utility ladder rose in skeleton steps toward the main roof

area. “I’ll take fifteen men and go that way. Only use your

communication device if you have to contact me. I’ll be in touch

when we get inside so we can coordinate our offensive.”

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Chapter 9

“Just for a moment,” Will repeated patiently. “Colonel Naiad will

want to see me.”

The young officer obviously knew Will’s identity for something

flickered in his eyes. “My orders are to only to allow in specified

staff.”

“My father was governor of the colony where the escaped

prisoners were incarcerated. I was the exchequer for the prison system

itself on Epsilon. Don’t you think I might have something to offer?”

It was a bluff. Will didn’t, not really. Oh, none of what he’d just

said wasn’t true, but as far as helpful information on a rescue mission

on an unknown planet was concerned, Will doubted he could be truly

of assistance just because he approved the budget for the high profile

institution.

But for the sake of Tara’s younger sister he was willing to pretend

he did. Part of it was chivalry because he was one of those males who

ridiculously wanted to help any female in distress, even one was

obviously capable as Peyton Valmont. There was also the factor that

she’d saved his life—no one would deny that.

Tara, too, was a variable in the equation. His feelings toward her

were involved—more than involved from all the signs—and if it

would ease her sister’s mind to know what was going on at the

surface level of Anaya Two, he’d do his best.

“I suppose you can go in, sir.” The guard stepped back and

allowed the scan to flash. The door lifted. “If the colonel doesn’t want

you in there, he’ll say so.”

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From his previous experience with Naiad, the sergeant was

probably right. Will walked in, saw that the colonel paid little

attention to him but was instead riveted on a wall of monitors and

waited. It took a few moments but Naiad turned and flicked him a

brief glance. “I can’t believe you got her to stay behind. Either you

are very persuasive or obviously Peyton isn’t completely willing to

toss aside her career.”

“Yet,” Will said, encouraged by the lack of outright dismissal.

“She’s pretty anxious to find out what is going on.”

“Since she checked herself into sickbay, I’m going to guess you’re

right.” The colonel looked him in the eye. “I’m sympathetic to her

concerns, believe me. Can you actually help with this situation with

the prisoners?”

“In a general way only.” Will felt with Naiad being honest was

probably best, and the man seemed to understand why he was there

anyway. “I know what my father told me. I also have been on Anaya

Two before, when Epsilon negotiated to buy agricultural products in

bulk with their government.” He smiled briefly. “They always invite

the person who handles the compensation part of the deal. Funny

thing, isn’t it? I’ve seen the terminal anyway.”

“We have a blueprint.”

“Not the same as firsthand, is it? The Serpentine, too, is part of

our commercial fleet. I know nothing about military ships like this

one, but shipping vessels were something I dealt with often.”

“Their contents is not the same thing as how to run them.”

“True,” Will admitted. “But who knows what might help.”

“Well, you’re better than what else I have, so sit down.”

At least he wasn’t being tossed right out. Will took the offered

chair, which he suspected Naiad sat in himself when Gallico was at

the command center and used the chair the colonel currently

occupied. The other person present was a young female who barely

spared him a quick glance before riveting her attention again on a

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series of controls. Her fingers were constantly busy on one keyboard

or another.

“They’re here.” Naiad pointed at a flashing on one screen. “And

here. And here. The commander has chosen to go in at two different

points. It looks to me like he’s left a small force to keep firing at the

main portal. Otherwise, other than using life form scans, from this

distance, we can’t tell what’s happening. Our sensors are hampered

by the heavy cloud cover that is a constant on Anaya Two. There’s no

way to even distinguish between the convicts and our own forces. I

can only tell where we are because I watched Gallico and his team

land and go in. When things start to happen, it will be impossible to

discern friend or enemy.”

“The muggy, warm atmosphere grows nice crops,” Will

commented with a wry smile. “And yes, I know that doesn’t help at

all, Colonel, but keep in mind because Anaya Two is such a peaceful

agricultural society, nothing is laid out in a fashion to address defense.

That,” Will added, “is a good thing. The prisoners don’t have

anyplace to—”

“Colonel Naiad,” the female officer interrupted tersely, “we’re

getting a distress message.”

“From the commander?”

“No. From one of the bunkers, sir.”

Naiad surged to his feet, his good-looking face tight. “That’s not

supposed to be possible. They are sealed and secure, Captain

Ammati.”

“That may be, sir, but I have a beacon. It looks like the door shield

was lifted a few minutes ago.”

It was Will who said quietly, “The people of Anaya Two are

pacifists. If the convicts could use the central communication system,

they might have told those colonists anything.”

“Which is why every colony needs a military presence,” Jake

Naiad muttered darkly, bending to stare at the monitor. “Who the hell

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would open that fucking door? We’ve got enough hostages with the

crew of the ship to worry about.”

“Shall I respond?” The female captain sat, her hands poised.

Naiad gave a curt nod of assent. “The commander wanted the

communication grid quiet so the prisoners couldn’t ascertain our

surface movements, but I think in this case I don’t have a lot of

choice, do I?”

On one the screens the image of a young woman appeared.

“Commander?”

“Colonel.” Naiad corrected.

“My name is Betina Tosse and I am the assistant to the colony

commissioner. Sir, we have a problem in Bunker 15 and we are

evacuating back into the city. Any suggestions for a safe place would

be welcome.”

“What kind of problem?”

“The respiration filtration system has failed. People started feeling

ill before we realized the blowers had shut down.” She paused. In the

background, Will realized with a jolt, there were children crying. “I

realize the colony is under lock down but we haven’t been informed

as to why. Information would be welcome at this point. We’ve opened

the hatch for ventilation. There was no choice. Is it still dangerous

outside?”

“There’s a small band of life forms close to the bunker.” Captain

Ammati informed Naiad quietly. “The surveillance grid keeps

flickering in and out. I’ve no idea how many, but all our men are in

front of, or inside, the main terminal. Those are convicts, Colonel.”

“It’s dangerous as hell outside, Ms. Tosse.” Naiad rubbed his jaw,

his eyes narrowed. “How many colonists are there?”

“Thirty-one.’ Betina’s face wavered as the signal dropped, the

message choppy. “…enough air…distress…twenty females and

eleven children.”

Will felt himself pale. Naiad said harshly. “No males?”

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The screen cleared and her image solidified again, which was a

relief, but her answer wasn’t. “No. The bunkers are designed gender